Lima: The Philippines secured a remarkable haul of five gold medals on Thursday at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Youth and Junior World Championships held in Lima, Peru.
According to Philippines News Agency, Jay-R Colonia from Zamboanga City made a significant impact by earning two gold medals in the clean and jerk and total categories, as well as a silver in snatch within the Youth men’s 49kg class. This competition marked Colonia’s debut on the international stage.
Alexsandra Ann Diaz, also hailing from Zamboanga City, showcased her prowess by claiming gold medals in the Youth women’s 45kg snatch and total categories while securing third place in the clean and jerk.
Adding to the Philippines’ success, Cebuano Althea Bacaro clinched a gold medal in the snatch category of the Youth women’s 40kg division. Bacaro also earned a silver in total and a bronze in the clean and jerk, contributing to the team’s impressive medal tally.
Zamboangue±a Angeline Colonia achieved a silver in snatch and a bronze in total in the Junior women’s 45kg category, finishing fourth in the clean and jerk. Meanwhile, Prince Keil Delos Santos from Angono, Rizal, placed fourth in both snatch and total and was sixth in the clean and jerk in the Junior men’s 55kg division.
Expressing her gratitude, Bacaro, a grade 8 student at the University of Cebu, stated, “I’m grateful and proud to bring home the silver medal. All I can say is, always train with purpose, listen to the coach and believe in yourself. Consistency and discipline are the keys to success.”
National coach Christopher Bureros commended Bacaro’s achievement, highlighting the importance of technique and mindset. “I’m extremely proud of Althea’s silver finish. Her discipline, focus and heart brought her to the podium,” Bureros remarked.
Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella lauded the team’s performance, emphasizing the emergence of a promising future for Philippine weightlifting. He thanked supporters such as the Philippine Sports Commission and various corporate sponsors for their backing and expressed optimism for the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics.
In related news, Zamboanga City’s Rosalinda Faustino, Jhodie Peralta, and Albert Ian Delos Santos are set to compete on Friday, representing the Junior women’s 49kg, Youth/Junior women’s 55kg, and Junior men’s 67kg categories, respectively.
The Youth division caters to athletes aged 13 to 17, while the Junior division includes competitors aged 15 to 20.
